Rose Cottage Extension Leicestershire
Rose Cottage, Leicestershire
The Brief
Our clients live in a conservation area in Leicestershire and wanted a way of extending and remodelling their rural cottage to accommodate their whole family. At the same time they wanted their home to compliment the surrounding heritage architecture.
Our Solution
We extended to the rear of the property and combined the retained cottage with the large garden. This created social space for the family and connected the existing space to the abundant nature in the large rear garden.
Heritage Architecture
Working in a Conservation Area
Swain architecture have a lot of experience working in conservation areas and work with local planning officers to achieve planning permission in challenging locations.
Blending Traditional with Contemporary
Appropriate scale of buildings and the materials they are built in are aspects of architectural design we are sensitive to at Swain Architecture. At Rose Cottage we chose a pitched roof to the upper level and specified reclaimed brick and wood façades externally so the new building blended in with the existing. We hope you agree that this is contemporary and sensitive architecture.
A Family Home
Space for Everyone
Connecting to a modest village cottage, our challenge was to create a master suite as well as three bedrooms, including one en-suite. By opting for vaulted ceilings on the first floor we retained the intimate nature of the original cottage and creating an extension that was sensitive in scale and form.
Connected to Nature
At the ground level, full width glazing frames the large garden. This introduces lots of light to the interior as well as providing an amazing view of the large cottage garden.
Do you have a heritage property you’d like to turn into a family home?
Swain Architecture has extensive experience working with planning authorities to ensure sensitive development within conservation areas. Whether you’re raring to knock down walls, or taking your first tentative steps towards a new space, we’d love to hear about your project. Bringing inspiration, robust design practice and plenty of experience with us, we transform spaces into something you can enjoy for years to come.
What did the clients think?
“Izzy understood exactly what we wanted. The old house was tricky with lots of small dark rooms and awkward spaces. Now the flow is so much better and the rooms larger and brighter. There’s a good balance of quirky old spaces and modern new spaces! We have floor to ceiling glass running across the entire back of the house- couldn’t connect any better to nature or be any lighter. It’s a real wow factor in the house.”
The owners of Rose Cottage, Leicestershire
Stoneycroft, a new-build family home in Derbyshire
Stoneycroft, Derbyshire
The Brief
Our clients bought a rare plot in a popular Derbyshire village with rolling countryside views. Their brief was to design a home for a family with grown children who all live busy lives and want a space they can enjoy together, while also providing a level of flexibility and space. The family also own a company that specialises in industrial buildings and wanted to put this expertise to use by building by using a steel framed building.
Our Solution
Working within the context of a rural village we designed a series of buildings that step down into the landscape, following the topography of the land. We designed a shallow plan building, which lends itself to steel framed construction. Aesthetically this design is reminiscent of traditional, brick built agricultural buildings found in this area.
Although the house is, in essence large, the design of ‘a collection of buildings’ conceals the scale within the streetscene and provides plenty of living space that frames the amazing views.
Architecture with a Sense of Place
Our Concept: A Collection of Rural Buildings
We always try to deliver quality architecture with a design that suits a building surroundings. Having made sure we reviewed the landscape, topology and neighbouring architecture we came up with this design of a collection of rural buildings. This design offers plenty of space for a large family but from the road it looks like a series of smaller homes. The main glass entrance forms a link between buildings at the same time as offering a glimpse of rural countryside views as arrive. The amount of glazing also floods the main circulation with light, without making it a greenhouse in summer.
Working in a Rural Area
Swain architecture are experienced at working within rural areas. We liaised with South Derbyshire District Council Planning Authority and ensured that our designs work within the picturesque village and streetscene of the property.
A Family Home
Space for Everyone
Houses in villages have a reputation as being small. Our challenge was to create a large amount of family accommodation that flows naturally, offering communal areas as well as personal spaces. As well as four bedrooms, a snug, mezzanine, gym, home office, boot room and utility, give this home defined spaces and clutter free circulation. All of these extra spaces ensure that a home works and functions well.
Connected to Nature
At the rear of the property, full width glazing frames the outside space. This introduces lots of light to the kitchen/living space as well as providing an amazing view of the large garden, and beautiful rolling Derbyshire countryside.
Built Form
Architectural Detail
The materials buildings are designed with are important to us at Swain Architecture. With our design for Stoneycroft we chose local red brick and timber (typically agricultural) for the façades of the building but utilised them in a contemporary way. Our aim is to design a building that looks like it belongs in its surroundings while being authentic to its time. We hope you agree that we’ve achieved both contemporary and sensitive architecture.
What did the clients think?
“Thank you so much again for designing our house. We love living here and we couldn’t have done it without your professional approach and understanding of our requirements. We are both very grateful.”
The owners of Stoneycroft, Derbyshire
Do you have a heritage property you’d like to turn into a family home?
Swain Architecture has extensive experience working with planning authorities to ensure sensitive development within rural areas. Whether you’re raring to knock down walls, or taking your first tentative steps towards a new space, we’d love to hear about your project. Bringing inspiration, robust design practice and plenty of experience with us, we transform spaces into something you can enjoy for years to come.
Leicestershire, Extension & Renovation
The Spinneys, Leicestershire
The Brief
Our client had experienced challenges in transforming this (newly listed) Grade II Listed detached home near the National Forest in Leicestershire into their dream home. This rare example of Arts & Crafts Architecture in the rural English Midlands is well loved by local residents.
Our Solutions
As experts in working with heritage buildings we worked closely with a heritage specialist and Charnwood District Council Planning Department to design an exceptional piece of architecture worthy of sitting beside this existing building. When working with old buildings we often believe in complementing the original design rather than running the risk of creating a pastiche. Our solution was a contemporary crafted piece of architecture that satisfies the owners contemporary taste and celebrates the listed building.
Arts & Crafts Principles
The Arts & Crafts movement is known for quality materials and craftsmanship. Our design features some modern-day craftsmanship in respect to the exiting building. White handmade bricks add to the textural quality of the extension by introducing a contrast to the glazing, and a large bronze frame adds a warm depth to the existing house. Our design celebrates the uninterrupted lightweight, effortless glazing, draping internal spaces with picture-perfect views, framing the homes large, wooded garden.
Working Within a Conservation Area
We created a design that returns the existing building to its original design and proportions. We made sure we visually separated the extension from the existing building making it subservient and sensitive. This project presented significant challenges for us to achieving planning consent and our approach of working with the planning authority and within heritage best practices resulted in planning approval being granted.
Detached House on Broadway in Derby
Broadway, Derby
The Brief
The client had three initial requests: bridges, balconies and mezzanines. Swain Architecture was approached to create a light, bright and modern house with contemporary features including glass floors, high ceilings and multi functional spaces. The challenge was to create a spacious home on a small city centre plot, in one of Derby’s most desirable residential addresses.
Delivering a New Home for a Growing Family
A Flexible Family Home
Broadway was designed with the ultimate adaptability in mind. A home that works as well for entertaining as it would for a growing family. With flexibility at the forefront of the design, multi-functional rooms and spaces were created, with an option for up to five bedrooms in the future.
The Benefits of a Bespoke Design
Open Plan Living
An extensive open plan kitchen and living area is situated on the first floor, creating a sense of space with double-height ceilings and large, south-facing windows. Among the many surprises this main living space has a feature glass floor looking down the snug and garden below.
Quality Materials
Materials, such as the slate roof, were selected to create a more traditional exterior. Materials were selected to be in keeping with the location: a leafy street with a number of Victorian redbrick houses.
West Bridgford Extension & Renovation
West Bridgford Extension & Renovation
The Brief
Our client wanted to create more space in their beautiful detached period home. They wanted to open up the back of the property, extending the ground floor and replanning the existing downstairs layout.
Our Solutions
A new large dining kitchen and family room was created as well as a practical and tidy utility room. The family living area not only benefits from floor to ceiling heritage aluminium windows, but also two large roof lights. The property benefited from a large loft which was ripe for conversion to a master bedroom suite with a contemporary twist.
An Eclectic Mix of Contemporary and Traditional
Materials
The new external elevation of this project is particularly striking. Black render on the new ground floor extension contrasts with gold zinc cladding for the new loft conversion. The design of this extension deliberately contrasts contemporary materials with the retained traditional period elevation on the street view.
Framing New Views
Large picture windows in both the new main bedrooms and en-suite make the most of the natural light and create new views over this popular suburb of Nottingham.
“We really wanted to do something different with our loft conversion. The house, although Edwardian from the front, was not as pretty from the back. We absolutely love looking at our brass coloured loft extension when the sky is blue and the sun glints on it, the colour is beautiful”
The owners of Florence Road, West Bridgford
Pastures Hill Derby Home Extension
Pastures Hill, Derby
The Brief
Swain Architecture are very proud to have welcomed this client to our practice. Having worked with the family when our Founding Director, Elizabeth Rhodes, worked at a previous practice. Having transformed the original modest bungalow into a family home, this latest project required the addition of a dormer extension on the first floor. The family’s needs had changed, and the growing family wanted more space.
Our Solutions
By adding a stylish dormer, the family home now has five double bedrooms. With the addition of the flat roof, picture windows have been added that frame the green view. The change from Velux windows has also made more usable space within the house.
Small Interventions, Huge Transformation
Although modest in size this extension improves the space planning throughout the whole building. Every room now feels uncompromised and the home works is a balanced, large family home.
Innovative Materials
Our project has been featured in Real Homes Magazine for its innovative use of fibre cement cladding (by Equitone). The material we used here is both cost effective and great at making the building energy efficient.
What did the clients think?
“The design of our extension with long windows and the frameless glass balustrade means the view to the outside over the garden and golf course is not only always visible but it is also uninterrupted.”
The owners of Pastures Hill
Detached Home Extension in Duffield, Derbyshire
Clumber View, Duffield, Derbyshire
The Brief
Our client bought a 1960’s detached house in the popular Derbyshire village of Duffield. They wanted to live in a modern home with lots of open space and tasked us with extending, reconfiguring and modernising the design of their home.
Delivering a New Family Home
A Flexible Layout
Clumber View was designed to make an open flexible home at the same time as retaining separate spaces within the layout. A home that works as well for entertaining as it would for a family. Everyone has their own sanctuary within this house.
The Benefits of a Bespoke Design
Open Plan Living
An extensive open plan kitchen and living area is situated to the rear of the property opening up and connecting to the large garden. Connection to the outdoor space was key to this family, utilising large amounts of glazing, bringing the outdoors in. An outdoor kitchen and first floor roof terrace were both installed for the summer months.
Quality Materials
Materials were used to create a contemporary aesthetic and modernise the property.
Ivy House Bottesford Leicestershire
Ivy House, Bottesford, Leicestershire
The Brief
Swain architecture designed this project to convert an unused two-storey outbuilding and link it via a new ground floor, single-storey family room to a detached Victorian home in a Conservation Area.
Background
The owners of this beautiful rural property felt they weren’t making the most of the interior space they had with their unused two storey outbuilding being located in between the main living space and the large garden.
Our Solutions
By adding a modest single storey link from the main house to the renovated two storey outbuilding we connected the house to the garden. The new link created a large kitchen-dining-lounge space with views across the picturesque garden.
Connecting to a Better Lifestyle
It is often thought that the more space in a home the better. At Swain Architecture we believe that well planned usable space is even more important. The benefit of employing a good architect, (like Swain Architecture!) is that the entire building is considered, even if the additional space is relatively modest. Connecting well-proportioned rooms in a way that suits a client’s lifestyle and needs.
New Accommodation
The single storey link building has created a private walled courtyard centred around an original antique water pump. The new family room has connected the house with the garden with sight lines through to the very bottom of the garden which overlooks this picturesque town within a Conservation Area. New rooms include a guest bedroom, home office and room to accommodate a growing family.
Detached House Extension in Duffield
Hazelwood Road, Duffield
Background
This detached house was well cared for and in an outstanding location in the Derbyshire village of Duffield. The owners knew they wanted to bring their home into the 21st century. They were looking to make some changes for their growing family.
The Right Spaces in the Right Places
Our client had already had planning consent granted for a design drawn by another firm of architects. Whilst the design met part of their brief, they felt they were left with a property which was much too big for their needs. We were asked to review the scheme and our ideas led to a full appointment on the project.
Creating Spaces for Modern Family Life
Space Planning
Our client required five bedrooms on one floor. Having previously been scattered all over the building we were able to reconfigure the layout so that all the bedrooms could be located on the existing ground floor. Bedrooms were given their own ‘wing’ so that they were kept separate from the flow of the living spaces.
A House That Feels Like a Home
We believe the flow of a home is really important to our clients enjoyment of their space. If rooms feels like they are in the correct place and order the entire home feels right and will be a pleasure to live in.
Efficient Use of Space
Cost Effective
By redesigning the internal layout, we were not only able to make more efficient use of the footprint, we were also able to save our client significant unnecessary expenditure.
Imaginative Family Spaces
The children had their hopes for first floor bedrooms from the previous designs, we were able to please them with a mezzanine for sleepovers, much more fun!
A Detached Garden Room Northamptonshire
The Potting Shed, Hannington
Background
When constructing their new home, a National Planning Policy Framework; Paragraph 55, new build farmhouse designed by acclaimed architect James Gorst, the client wanted to create a room in the garden to entertain visitors. They wanted a room their guests would not forget.
The Brief
Swain Architecture was brought onto this project by renowned landscape architect James Alexander Sinclair to create an iconic party room with a unique twist – the exterior shell of the building is designed to resemble an old potting shed in a secret walled garden.
Designing for a Rural Environment
Using Appropriate Materials
Built using an agricultural steel frame, the building’s exterior incorporates disused materials including rusted tin roof, reclaimed brick and stone from the farm originally on the site, to achieve its desired weathered look. Despite its rustic appearance, the build is well-insulated and is fully protected against the elements.
A High-end Specification Entertainment Room
Inside the room is functional and modern. Features include a pizza over and Teppanyaki table and bar – enviable requirements for the ultimate party room. This is our take on a contemporary garden Folly.
